Machine for cleaning ballast



Aug. 3 1926.

J. B. M WlLLlAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Dec. 21, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN T OR.

A TTORNEY Aug. 3 1926.

J. B. M WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Dec. 21, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. 4am 6f Jzwmw BY W ,L w

ATTORNEY Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,969

J. B. MCWILLIAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed bee. 21, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J INVENTOR.

BY l

' 'ITTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. B. M WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Dec. 21, 1925 Aug. 3 1926.

ATTORNEY Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,969

J. B. M WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Dec 1, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 t Q; T

Q X A,

W I INVENTOR. 1114 1 J M A'TTORNEY Aug. 3 1926. 7 1,594,969

J. B. M WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed 21, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I I I I I \I T I I I I I I INVENTOR. I

' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. MCWILLIAMS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB .TO RAILWAY MAINTENANCE CORPORATION, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING BALLAST.

Application filed December 21, 1925. Serial No. 76,679.

My invention consists of an improvement in machines for cleaning ballast between railway tracks. Its 'general purpose or objectis to provide a portable apparatus capable of being located in proper relation to the ballast of a roadway, between the tracks thereof, or at either side of a single track, for disturbance and removal of the packed ballast and separation therefrom of the accumulated refuse as cinders, ashes, and the like.

The invention is generally similar in certain respects to that of my prior application filed March 24, 1925, Serial No. 1r,950.

In the machine of said application, I provide supplemental supporting rails at the outer ends of the ties of adjacent tracks upon which the apparatus is mounted and supported for propulsion and operation. In my present invention the entire apparatus is supported at one or both sides of a fiat car or other suitable carrying truck, by means of a laterally arranged frame or frames, so as to utilize the main tracks only for support and propulsion, together with means for supplying power to the operative portions of the machine, and with an improved removing device, utilizing fluid pressure for disposition of theseparated refuse to cars, for transit.

In the drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention Fig. 1 is a general plan view showing the apparatus in operative relation to its supporting car.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view showing the fluid-actuated ash removing ejector.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus in its operative relation to the supporting car.

Fig. 5 is a. similar view showing the apparatus similarly mounted and adjusted with relation to the track level, as on a curve.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view on the line VIVI of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a further enlarged sectional view on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view. similar to Fig. 1, but showing the utilization of the invention as applied at each side of a middle trackway.

Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing means for driving the apparatus from the axle of the truck.

The ballast removing and screening apparatus as a whole is supported at one side of a main flat car body or truck 2 mounted by its wheels 3 on the track rails 4 of ties 5. Ordinarily, in a plural track road, the space 6 between adjacent tracks isfilled with ballast requiring cleansing from time to time, as is well understood by those familiar with railroad practice.

The main operative portionof the machine is supported upon a framework consisting of longitudinal beams 70f channel or other suitable form connected at the rear end by a similar beam 8, and brought together at the advancing end to provide a pair of supporting beams 9, upon which the excavating apparatus A is mounted.

Said framework in turn is supported by the transverse channel beams 10 of similar construction which are carried by the depending main supporting posts 11, suitably framed onto and slidably connected with the supporting platform structure, as hereinafter described.

Posts 11 in turn are pivoted at 12 by a removable bolt to the lower ends of vertically arranged adjusting screws 13. These extend up through the truck body adjacent its .edge, and are provided with adjusting nuts 14. each having a hand wheel 15 and rotatfloor of the car.

'Means are also provided for adjusting the supporting platform, excavator A, conveyor, and screening'mechanism bodily, either outwardly or inwardly with relation to the supporting car 2, because of variation in track centers, etc. For such purpose the cross supporting channel members 10 are slidably supported from posts 11 by means of terminal T-shaped bearings '54 at the lower ends of posts 11. Bearings 54 engage underneath the top flanges of channel members 10, as in Fig. 7, so that by moving the channels outwardly or inwardly, the entire framework and its supported mechanism may be properly located to adjust the apparatus with relation to the tracks.

'Motionis imparted to the frame by ad- 'ing toothed arms 25, 25.

.mounted in bearings 63, 63, and having a hand wheel 64.

Driving chain 60 is preferably provlded with a suitable idler wheel at any po nt for taking up slack or loosening the chain, as will be readily understood.

For the purpose of bracing the structural latform 7-89-10 and of adjusting its evel, and its position relative to the car body and to the ties, etc., post 11 is pivotally connected at 17 by a removable bolt wit the lower end of-an adjusting arm 18, one for each post.

Said arm is threaded as at 19 and extends through a nut 20, swivelly mounted across a clearance opening 21 in the floor of the car. The upper end of adjusting shaft 18 is provided with a hand wheel 22 and its lower end is swivelly connected with the bifurcated clevis 23 of pivotal connection 17, as. at 24, so as to provide for free swinging adjustment of the post upon turning the wheel 22 in one direction or the other.

As thus arranged, it will be seen that the main supporting framework for the machine may be raised or 'loweredby threaded stems 13, and may be independently adjusted inwardly or outwardl therefrom, so as to give any desired tippm location, by adjustment of the hand wheels 22.

By removing bolts 12 and 17 the entire framework 7--10 with its supported mechanism may be removed from its stems 13 and adjusting rods 18 an oiste u wardly onto the truck by a crane or the hie, chain 60, hereinafter described being first removed from sprocket 59.

As thus mounted, the entire supporting frame work for the disturbing, conveying, fr

screening, and removing mechanism, is so located as to be moved by its supportin car along between the ends of the ties 0 adjiaipent tracks, and in range of the ballast The working mechanism carried by the frame, comprises a ballast digging and loading element A at the front, consisting of a palr of laterally movable inwardly sweep- These are actuated by rotating disks 26 and are guided for their desired sweeping action by the extended stems 27 and swivel heads 28. In this stantially like that-o the well known joy mining machine, as disclosed in Patent No.

Arms 25 are arran ed to operate in a slop-' ing plane above the s oping ace of a header 29, forming the low member of the machine. ward end of frame arms 9 as in Figs. 1 and 2, and also provides a bearing for the head shaft 30 of conveyor 31.

Said conveyor is-mounted on a suitable support frame 32 extending rearwardl at an ang e conforming to that of the he er, then rearwardly on a level, and terminating by its head shaft 33 in suitable bearings of the frame 32 at a position sufiiciently high above the grate or screen bars ,34 to dehver thereon. Said screen bars are vibrated b a cam or eccentric shaft 74 driven from s aft 36 by pulley or sprocket 75, belt or chain 76 and pulley or sprocket wheel 77.

Shaft 33 is driven through chain or other across underneath the main frame in suitable bearin thereof, and receiving its driving power t rough gearing 37 from a motor M or engine of any suitable type.

As thus constructed, the e evating conveyor will carry the ballast and its contained refuse backwardly for discharge onto the separating grating 34 continuously as the machine is moved forward and the ballast, etc. is excavated by the arms, and delivered inwardly onto the conveyor.

Arms 25 are actuated from head shaft 30 through the conveyor 31 and bevel gearing 38, as will be readily understood. The grate or screen 34 is of any suitable construction, as by a series of somewhat closely adjacent bars extending longitudinally above suitable transverse supports carried by the frame 39 above a receivm hopper 40.

For the purpose of moving the ballast and its contained refuse over such grating, after delivery from conveyor 31, I utilize a pair of chains 41 running over driving sprockets 42 of a driven shaft 43 at the front, and also over idler s rockets 44 of shaft 45 at the rear, carrie in .bearings 46 on the main ame.

Chains 41 are connected at intervals by cross bridge or slat members 47 and shaft 43 is driven by sprocket and chain gearing 48 from shaft 36, and motor M, during operation of the conveyor.

As the ballast and itsrefuse are delivered over the end of conve or 31, it is spread laterally across the sur ace of the grate bars by the sloping deflecting guiding channels 49 so as to distribute it evenly and thinly over the grating for good screening.

The cinders, ashes, and other refuse fall through the grating, and the cleaned ballast Such hea eris carried on the foris carried over the rear end and discharged downwardly into the ballast cavity in its original fresh condition. All refuse is thereby collected in hopper 40 and is carried away therefrom by the suction conduit 50.

Said conduit is provided at any suitable point with an ejector 51 of well known construction, actuated by the pressure of a steam jet nozzle 52 from line 53 connected with the boiler of the locomotive.

Conduit 50 extends upwardly beyond the ejector and is disposed in any suitable way for delivery of the collected waste material. Thus the refuse may be blown or delivered to any point beyond the right of way, suitable for collecting such refuse, or it may be delivered into a car by extending the conduit longitudinally above a series or train thereof. with removable sections, adapted for adjustment as each car is filled.

In Fig. 8 I show a double arrangement of apparatus comprising a collecting, conveying and screening outfit at each side of car 2.

In such case the mechanism depends laterally at each side of the car, in duplicate, constructed and operated in the same manner as above described. In such arrangement the delivery conduit 50 leading from each ejector 51 is connected with a common delivery conduit 50 extending along above the several cars of the train as described.

The illustration showing such arrangement also illustrates the manner in which the mechanism may be operated in the spaces between the adjacent. tracks at each side, without interfering with traffic, and without involving the necessity of any supplemental trackway or support.

The invention is designed to be operated by gradually moving along under the power of the locomotive L at a suitable speed to facilitate the operation of the working parts without choking, and under the control of the engineer.

The means providing for adjustment of the supporting frame enables the apparatus to be located properly with relation to the space between the ties, and also with relation to the depth of the ballast to be cleaned.

As shown in Fig. 5, it will be seen that such adjustment easily overcomes any variation in the track levels, as when working on banked trackways, or on curves.

The entire apparatus and mechanism is self-contained and supported as a unit from an ordinary flat car, and driven through the power-imparting means shown, in connection with a steam jet driven from the locomotive supply.

In Fig. 9, I show a modified construction in which the excavating and screening apparatus is mounted and supported laterally from the truck 2, in the same manner as above described.

Instead of utilizing a driving motor M or any other equivalent prime mover, in-' nism is adapted to be driven from one of the car axles 65 during movement of the truck at proper speed. For such purpose, head shaft 33 of the conveyor 31 is extended inwardly and is in spline engagement with a driving sprocket ,80 for sliding drive engagement, as at 66." Sprocket 80 is geared by chain 67 with a driving sprocket 68 of shaft 69, which in turn is driven by sprocket 70 and chain 71 from sprocket 72 on axle 65, and gears 78, 79.

Sprocket chain 71 is provided with a suitable compensating idler wheel for tightening or loosening the chain, and a swinging frame 73 of any suitable construction, connects shaft 69 with axle 65, so that it may be swung upwardly or downwardly as desired for adjustment.

The screen bars 34*. are similarly vibrated by the eccentric or cam shaft 74 as is well understood, and said shaft is rotated from head shaft 33 by means of sprocket 75, chain 76, and sprocket 7 7.

By such construction and arrangement,

the several operating parts will be actuated during operation of the truck 2 in traveling over the track at slow speed, so as to provide for the excavation, conveyance, screening, and discharge of the refuse and ballast during motion of the truck, in the same manner generally, as already described. It will be understood also that in such arrangement the tilting mechanism of Fig. 6 is utilized, but not shown, being broken away to illus trate the axle drive.

In operation, the mechanism is substantially automatic and will continuously operate to cleanse and replace the ballast in the shortest practical time.

It will be understood that the proportions, dimensions, or various details of the invention may be changed or varied by the skilled mechanic or builder to accommodate it to the different conditions of use, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims:

What I claim isr- 1. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a ballast excavatin and screenin apparatus, and means carried bythe true for sup porting the frame. 7

2. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a ballast excavating and screening apparatus, and means carried by the truck for supporting the frame and for adjusting it with relation to a road bed on which the truck is mounted.

3. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a ballast excavating and screening a paratus, and means depending from the si e of the truck entirely supporting the frame and its apparatus.

4.. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a ballast excavating and screening apparatus, and means depending from the side of the truck entirely supporting the frame and its apparatus, provided with mechanism for adjusting said parts outwardly or in-' wardly.

5. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame'provided with a ballast excavating and screening appara tus, and means depending from the side of the truck entirely supporting the frame and its apparatus, provided with mechanism for adjusting said parts upwardly or downwardly.

6. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a'ballast excavating and screening apparatus, and means depending from the side of the truckentirely supporting the frame and its apparatus, provided with mechanism for adjusting said parts at an angle to a horizontal plane.

7. In apparatus for cleaning ballast at oneside of a railway track, a wheeled truck adapted to be supported on the track rails, vertically depending supports at one side of the truck, and a laterally extending frame carried by said supports and provided with excavating and screening mechanism.

8. In apparatus for cleaning ballast at one side of a railway track, a wheeled truck adapted to be supported on the track rails, vertically depending supports at one side of the truck, a laterally extending frame carried by said supports and provided with excavating and screening mechanism, and means for adjusting the frame and its supported mechanism entirely from the truck.

9. In apparatus for cleaning ballast at one side of a railway track, a wheeled truck adapted to be supported on the track rails, vertically depending supports at one side of the truck, and a laterally movable frame slidably mounted on said supports and provided with excavating and screening mechanism and adjusting means therefor.

10. In apparatus for cleaning ballast at one side of a railway track, a. wheeled truck adapted to be supported on the track rails rovided with supporting bearings adjacent its edge, a pair of vertically adjustable temper screws therein each provided with a lower post portion, a supporting frame carried thereby and extending laterally beyond the track, and ballast excavating and screen- I ing apparatus on said frame.

11. In apparatus for cleaning ballast at one side of a railway track, a wheeled truck adapted to be supported on the track rails provided with supporting bearings adjacent its edge, a pair of vertically adjustable temper screws therein each provided with a lower pivotally connected post portion, means for laterally adjusting said posts, a supporting frame carried by the posts and extending laterally beyond the track, and ballast excavating and screening apparatus on said frame.

12. In combination with a wheeled truck adapted to be mounted on the rails of a railroad and provided with a laterally extending supporting frame depending at one side below the truck, screening mechanism mounted on the frame having an excavator, a conveyor, a screen, and a dust collector.

13. In combination with a wheeled truck adapted to be mounted on the rails of a railroad and provided with a laterally extending supporting frame depending at one. side below the truck, screening mechanism mounted on the frame having an excavator. a conveyor, a screen, a dust collector, and means for driving said parts. I

14. In combination with a wheeled truck adapted to be mounted on the rails of a railroad and provided with a laterally extending supporting frame depending at one side below the truck, screening mechanism mounted on the frame having an excavator. a conveyor, a screen; a dust collector, and means remo'vably' connecting the frame with the truck.

15. The combination with a'wheeled truck, of a laterally arranged frame provided with a ballast excavating and screening apparatus, and means'depending from the side of the truck entirely supporting the frame and its apparatus, provided with mechanism for adjustingsaid parts to operative position at one side of the 'trackway on which the truck is mounted.

16. In combination with a double track railway having an intervening ballast cavity, a truck adapted for travel on one track provided with excavating and screening mechanism supported entirely from one side ofthe truck and adapted to operate on the ballast and through said cavity without interference with the adjoining track.

17. In combination with a. double track railway having an intervening ballast cavity, a truck adapted for travel on one track provided with excavating and screening mechanism supported entirely from one side of the truck and adapted to operate on the hallast and through said cavity without intersignature.

JAMES B. MGWILLIAMS. 

